Abnormal functional connectivity of high-frequency rhythms in drug-naïve schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe and chronic mental disorder characterized by distinct positive symptoms (e.g., delusions and hallucinations), negative symptoms (e.g., diminished expression or abolition of motivation), and cognitive deficits. Although the exact pathophysiology remains unclear, recent neuroimaging-based evidence points to the "dysconnection hypothesis" as a core pathophysiological mechanism of SZ (Friston, 1998; Ribolsi et al., 2009; Schmitt et al., 2011; Stephan et al., 2006). According to this hypothesis, patients with SZ have an impaired brain network, which leads to deviation from optimum functional connectivity reflected in at least some symptoms of SZ (Ćurčić-Blake et al., 2017; Mulert et al., 2011).

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Disruptive Behavior Treatment Progress as a Function of Therapy Focus and Youth Diagnosis in a Community Mental Health Setting

Abstract

Monthly disruptive behavior treatment progress for 613 youth ages 7–18 receiving intensive in-home services was examined. Multilevel modeling indicated carrying a depressive mood diagnosis predicted less disruptive behavior progress compared to youth with only externalizing diagnoses. Paradoxically, more monthly focus on disruptive behavior treatment targets predicted lower concurrent progress ratings, while greater focus on depressive mood targets predicted greater disruptive behavior progress for youth with a depressive mood diagnosis. Findings held when other predictors of disruptive behavior progress were included as covariates, including episode length, youth age, and functional impairment. Treatment and research implications are discussed.

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Genetic analysis assessed by microsatellites for a diallel mating design of two geographical stocks of the blood clam Tegillarca granosa

Abstract

To determine the potential for productive efficiency and genetic improvement in the blood clam Tegillarca granosa, four offspring populations (ZZ, ZK, KZ and KK) were produced from a diallel mating of two different geographical stocks (Z and K). The levels of genetic diversity and population structures of four populations were analyzed using 14 polymorphic microsatellites. The results showed that the mean observed heterozygosities (Ho) of reciprocal cross populations (ZK and KZ) was higher than those of pure populations(ZZ and KK). The largest values of genetic differentiation coefficient (F_st = 0.067) and Nei's unbiased genetic distance (Dc = 0.263) were between ZK and KZ, and the smallest (F_st = 0.020, Dc = 0.116) were between ZZ and KK, which revealed that the largest genetic divergence was between the two reciprocal cross populations and the smallest was between two pure populations. This study demonstrated that the reciprocal cross populations of T. granosa had an extensive genetic difference and improvement, which may be advantageous for future breeding studies.

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Transcriptome profiling of PeCRY1 transgenic Populus tomentosa

Abstract

Cryptochromes, a class of blue light photoreceptors, play vital roles in regulating growth and development in higher plants. Despite their control over various important traits, there have been few studies focusing on cryptochromes in forest trees to date. In this study, the Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica) gene PeCRY1 (cryptochrome 1 of Populus euphratica) was isolated and heterologously expressed in Populus tomentosa. Three biological replicates of each of the PeCRY1 transgenic P. tomentosa (CRY1) and wild-type (WT) plants were processed for transcriptome profiling. We found 34792 commonly expressed transcripts among the 93868 detected unigenes. Using R package DESeq, we identified 357 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 132 upregulated and 225 downregulated genes. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment were used to better understand the functions of detected DEGs. Biosynthetic processes, such as starch and sucrose metabolism, which are closely related to growth and development, were highly enriched. Organic cyclic compound biosynthesis was downregulated, whereas carbohydrate metabolism was upregulated. Through KEGG pathway enrichment, we observed that the pentose phosphate pathway, photosynthesis, and circadian rhythm were significantly enriched. Another method of expression analysis based on quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validated our RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) results.

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Restoration of motor control and proprioceptive and cutaneous sensation in humans with prior upper-limb amputation via multiple Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays (USEAs) implanted in residual peripheral arm nerves

Despite advances in sophisticated robotic hands, intuitive control of and sensory feedback from these prostheses has been limited to only 3-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) with 2 sensory percepts in closed-loop contr...

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Daily inspiratory muscle training lowers blood pressure and vascular resistance in healthy men and women

Abstract

Previous work has shown inspiratory muscle training (IMT) lowers blood pressure after just six weeks, identifying IMT as a potential therapeutic to prevent/treat hypertension. Here, we explore the effects of IMT on respiratory muscle strength and select cardiovascular parameters in recreationally active men and women. Subjects were randomly assigned to IMT (n = 12, 75% maximal inspiratory pressure) or sham training (n = 13, 15% maximum inspiratory pressure) groups and underwent a 6-week intervention comprising 30 breaths day⁻¹, 5 days week⁻¹. Pre- and post- training measures included maximal inspiratory pressure, and resting measures of blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, spontaneous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity, and systemic vascular resistance. We evaluated psychological and sleep status via administration of the Cohen-Hoberman inventory of physical symptoms and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Male and female subjects in the IMT group showed declines in systolic/diastolic blood pressures (−4.3/−3.9 mmHg SBP/DBP, P < 0.025) and systemic vascular resistance (-3.5 mmHg*min L⁻¹, P = 0.008) at Week 6. There was no effect of IMT on cardiac output (P = 0.722), heart rate (P = 0.795), or spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (P = 0.776). IMT subjects also reported fewer stress-related symptoms pre versus post training (12.5 ± 8.5 vs. 7.2 ± 9.7, P = 0.025). Based on these results, we suggest a short course of inspiratory muscle training confers significant respiratory and cardiovascular improvements and parallel (modest) psychological benefits in healthy men and women.

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Somatosensory Evoked Potentials and Central Motor Conduction Times in Children with Dystonia and their correlation with outcomes from Deep Brain Stimulation of the Globus pallidus internus

The benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the Globus Pallidus internus (GPi) for isolated idiopathic or genetic (formerly termed primary) dystonia are now well recognised in both adults and children, with improvements of 52-88% being seen in the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale motor score (BFMDRS-m)(Coubes et al., 2004; Vidailhet et al., 2005; Zorzi et al., 2005, Alterman et al., 2007). However, isolated dystonia, in which the dystonic movements are the only feature of the neurological disease and structural neuroimaging is normal, is rare, especially in childhood (Roubertie et al., 2002).

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